Dirt Late Model Racing - The Show-Me 100

Weather seems to be a constant threat for each edition of the Show-Me, and this year proved to be no different as a storm that belied the favorable forecast snuck in and dumped 2 inches of rain on the speedway and grounds. Parts of the pit area resembled a lake as crews relied on their ingenuity and plenty of tarps and towels to try and stay high and dry to complete their work. Against a backdrop of ominous clouds, Billie's infectious smile defied the possibility of an extended weekend. Eventually, her faith was rewarded with sunshine and an accompanying breeze that dried the area sufficiently to get down to the business of seeing who would take home the gaudy $42,000 winner's check that was part of a purse that topped the $200,000 mark.

Each year, there seems to be a small happening that makes each respective Show-Me stand apart. There was the year the lights went out and delayed the show. There was the year that the weather pushed the event to a Sunday afternoon conclusion. There have been drivers from as far away as New Zealand in competition and there was even a year where two "lottery" picks were awarded starting berths in the field. This year, the event saw its first-ever female competitor as Jill George of Cedar Falls, Iowa, attempted to make the field. She didn't make the feature, but represented herself well with a Top 10 finish in her heat race qualifier.

After Ray Cook secured the chassis manufacturer's Dash for Cash, Bloomquist captured the Past Champions Dash. After three consolation events completed the field for the 100-lap affair, an impressive fireworks show heightened the excitement.

Front row starters Freddy Smith and Terry Phillips, both former winners of the event, brought the field to the green, much to the delight of the huge crowd in attendance. Phillips asserted himself early onboard his GRT to take command of the first four circuits until the first of five cautions slowed the field. Several drivers took advantage of the "Delaware double-file" restarts employed for this event to make quick advances through the field. The most notable were Jimmy Mars and Bloomquist. Tenth-starting Mars showed his muscle on the apron as he vaulted into the Top 3 in less than 10 laps. And before the quarter mark of the event, he had tracked down leader Phillips and the two waged a side-by-side battle that saw Mars take the point on Lap 33.

The FinishDuring a long green flag run, Mars and Phillips traded tenures at the point while Bloomquist's considerable legion of fans had plenty to cheer about as he had moved from dead last to the sixth spot just before halfway. Lap after lap, Phillips and Mars raced in close proximity, utilizing the high line and the inside hub, respectively, while Bloomquist continued his onslaught on the field by getting to third at the three-quarter mark.

Just 20 laps from the conclusion, Mars finally managed to break free from Phillips and moved out to a more comfortable, but still tenuous, lead. It appeared that the Menomonie, Wisconsin, driver, often referred to as the Ice Man, would etch his name in the record books of the coveted event as a champion. However, only seven laps from the checkers, Phillips' teammate, Jeremy Payne, who had turned in likely the best performance of his career, became the victim of mechanical woes that ended his sterling Fourth Place run and set the stage for a shootout for one of the biggest checks in the sport.